Michael Owen admits he is filled with a mixture of nerves and excitement as he prepares to make his race-riding debut at Ascot on Friday.

The former footballer will ride Calder Prince, trained by Tom Dascombe at Owen’s Cheshire stable, in the seven-furlong Prince’s Countryside Fund race.

Owen, 37, had not even sat on a horse five months ago and admits shedding the pounds from 13st 6lb to a racing weight of 12st has been almost as big a challenge as learning to control a thoroughbred.

Michael Owen is feeling the nerves ahead of his debut as a jockey at Ascot on Friday in the Prince's Countryside Trust event

Owen said: ‘It’s been a massive learning curve. From riding out in the morning to being thrown off and then galloping on a racecourse, it’s been fantastic. It’s given me a greater appreciation of racing.’

Owen said the first time he sat on Calder Prince, he ‘felt like I had gone 12 rounds with Mike Tyson the next day’.

Speaking of the incident Owen told the Telegraph: 'It was really insightful and, if anything, it has brought me on a lot but also put me back a couple of strides because it was the first time I've fallen off of a horse – twice!'

Owen has been involved in the sport for years and opened his own Manor House Stables while his playing career was ongoing

Despite Friday's event being the first time Owen has crossed the threshold and physically got involved with racing himself, the striker has a long history with the sport.

For many years the 37-year-old has owned horses, growing his stable collection year upon year and investing heavily in the sport.

While his football career was still in full flow Owen purchased a Cheshire cattle barn set in 160 acres which he, along with his wife Louise, renovated as Manor House Stables.

A starting total of 30 horses quickly grew to 90 by 2009, with the numbers rising continually since.